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What to do when they turn the lights out
- Thread starter dscott11
- Start date
Nice pedalboard! Is that glow-in-the dark ink with blacklight, or is that just a trick of the light?
thanks !
The leds are UV and i used just a common highlighter like this one which reacts to the UV light.
cheers
Trombone is my first instrument.
No trombone player good enough to be getting paid to gig ever looks at his or her hands while playing.
Good thread. I've seen lots of great players look at their fretboards. It depends on the song, the shifts, etc. It doesn't hurt to be prepared, both by practice and by having backup "lighting."
Playing in the dark is lame. I got caught in the dark one time and vowed never to have it happen again. It's not so much about seeing your fretboard but more that the audience can't see your awesome performance. At the minimum you should at least bring a couple cheesy clip on lights with colored fluorescent bulbs. Don't have to spend a ton on lighting gear - a couple track lights from garage sales can be easily converted to add some colored fills. We always brings some small Chauvet sound activated DJ lights to add some atmosphere even if the venue has stage lights. They come in handy more times then not.
I like the fret light thing there on musiciansfriend, glow in the dark paint fret markers, another good solution. I try not to look too much, lately I notice I've been looking at my right hand more than my left for some reason. but it's good to practice with your eyes closed. unless I'm playing my Chapman Stick, then I really have to be able to see, at least when a new section comes up, I have no idea what I'm doing on that thing. I have one bass with LEDs on the headstock one of which will cast a circle of red light on the floor bright enough to read a set list by even in total darkness. I never gig with that bass though.
I was playing one of those all black unlined fretless basses from Rogue for a while in a darker room. Some times the light guy would go a little nuts and kill too much light all at once. I stuck some thin strips of neon duct tape around where the fret marker was to make it easier to spot in the dark.
Put in some brail markers on the underside of the fingerboard. You will feel them without having to look.
I have a couple of Antari Diablo flame machines I use on most gigs. Really helps when the stage lights are lame.
That sentiment seems to be implying that he shouldn't play for anyone until he is a 'perfect' live bass player and can play the Hungarian Gypsy minor mode with his feet in case his arms fall off onstage.
Of course playing blind is a good thing but he merely asked for some ideas on lighting until that time comes....
LOL. I just about strangled on my drink when I read the line about playing the Hungarian Gypsy minor mode with his feet in case his arms fall off onstage. Well done, sir. (My throat is not too happy, though.That sentiment seems to be implying that he shouldn't play for anyone until he is a 'perfect' live bass player and can play the Hungarian Gypsy minor mode with his feet in case his arms fall off onstage.
Of course playing blind is a good thing but he merely asked for some ideas on lighting until that time comes....
)
StuartV said:
I too am a boner. Junior year in high school I never look at my slide unless it's 7th position. But that's rarely needed so it's not too bad.
On electric bass I generally do not look at my hands unless I'm playing chords (but only if they're 3 or more string chords), or it's a fretless. Now upright, I'm still at the point where I have to look at my hand on fast pieces. Otherwise my tromboner sense on intonation can tune a note without looking.
I've used the glow in the dark fretboard stickers. They work, although I really needed them on the side of the fretboard rather than the front. They do make it a lot easier at night to not trip over your bass (note to self......hang back on wall.....)!
One gig I did some smarty turned out the lights. Sorry, I'm not playing in a dark area with 50 people a foot away from all the equipment drunk and jumping around blind. Turn the lights on or you get no bass. The lights came back on
.
Didn't know highlighter flouresces in the UV light......I'm going to have to try that one!
One gig I did some smarty turned out the lights. Sorry, I'm not playing in a dark area with 50 people a foot away from all the equipment drunk and jumping around blind. Turn the lights on or you get no bass. The lights came back on
. Didn't know highlighter flouresces in the UV light......I'm going to have to try that one!
